JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Item Description

Title:

The Caroline Islands Script
﻿

Author:

De Voogt, Alexander J.

Date:

1993

Abstract:

This thesis maintains that the Caroline Islands script has been unjustly dismissed as a preferable orthography for the Woleaian language. The reason for this dismissal were twofold: (l) the researchers compared the script with an inaccurate tentative orthography by Smith (1951) and (2) there are still many misconceptions about syllabaries in general. However, this thesis seeks to show that the script should be preferred to introduced Roman alphabets for the Woleaian language, since (l) it strengthens cultural practices, (2) enforces indigenous forms of education and (3) adds to cultural pride, whereas schooling with conventional Roman alphabet orthographies tend to influence these factors negatively.

Three syllabaries, the Yi, the Vai and the Cherokee syllabary, with histories similar to the Caroline Islands script support the thesis that the script should be preferred for cultural reasons. These official printed syllabaries demonstrate that political support is needed to revive the Caroline Islands script and restore it as an official orthography.